chapter twenty one: transient Luna

Aria's POV:

"You know you don't have to go if you don't want to, right?" Xander tells me as I rummage through his closet for my clothes and a few of his hoodies.

I only smile at him as I stuff the clothes into a duffle bag I found somewhere in the closet.

"I'm serious, Aria. If you don't want to go, I can tell Meredith you won't go," he says.

I still haven't regained my complete strength. Zipping the duffle felt like a very hard task. But the a few extra pull and curses under my breath, I manage to zip it up.

I realize I never asked Xander if I could borrow the duffle, so I turn to him. "You don't mind me borrowing this, right?"

"You don't have to ask; we are mates for heaven's sake," he chuckles a bit.

"Okay, I'm ready to go," I tell him as I stand up from the floor.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He sounds concerned.

"What choice do I have?" I force a smile.